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(No Model.) 1 4 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. G. KREIS. WOQD CUTTING MACHINE.

No. 547,490. Patented Oct. 8, 1895.

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' J. G. KREI S.. WOOD CUTTING MACHINE.

No. 547,490. Patented Oct. 8, 1895.

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J. G. KREIS. W001) CUTTING MACHINE.

No. 547,490. Patented 001;. 8, 1895.

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JOHANN enone KREIS, or HEINRIGHSTHAL, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY,ASSIGNOR TOEISENGIESSEREI & MASOHINENFABRIK, or IBAUZEN, GERMANY.

WOOD-CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 547,490, dated October8, 1895.

Application filed July 3, 1895- sclial No. 554,837- (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHANN GEORG KREIS, a subject of the King ofPrussia, residing at Heinrichsthal, Moravia, Austria-Hungary, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Wood-Cutting Machinery,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wood-cutting machinery.

The machine which is the subject of this invention is designed to out upthe trunks of trees into disks, chiefly for the purposes ofmanufacturing Li gno-cellulose, or cellular ma terial. It is especiallycharacterized by the fact that the disks are out from thehorizontally-fed trunk at an angle of about forty-five degrees to theaxis of the trunk by a revolving cutter formed of a knife or knivesarranged singly or in numbers. In the latter case the knives are spacedequidistantly round the circumference of a large circle. By thisarrangement I obtain the following important advantages over the olderforms of machines for the same purpose: First, by the horizontal feed ofthe tree-trunk in my improved ma chine in lieu of the slant feed in theold machines the force exerted on the tree-trunk by gravity cannotinfluence the cut or severance unfavorably nor compel continuance of thework when it is desirable to stop; sec 0nd, by the employment of a heavyrotating cutter, with great momentum, the inequality of working,resulting from the variation of work from a maximum during the cut to aminimum in the intervals between the cuts, can be much bettercompensated for and the application of motive power much more nearlyequalized than is any way possible with reciprocating working parts.

In the type of machine hitherto commonly employed the back of thevertically and rectilinearly reciprocating knife necessarily pressedagainst the freshly-cut surface of the wood, and great frictionresulted. The mode of action of the knife-edge was by a direct downwardpressure-as, for example, in a paper-cutting machine-but in my improvedmachine the knife-blade is curved and rests against a spirally-curvedbacking in such manner that only the cutting-edge is in contact with thefreshly-cut surface, and consequently there is no longer any unnecessaryfriction between the rear surface of the knife and the surface of thecut. The action of the knife is actually that of a chopper, and exactlylike that of a carpenters axe, which is directed obliquely against abalk.

Furthermore, this invention comprises an important improvement in thefeed device. The feed-trunk is run upon the customary guide and feedrollers and at a point immediately before that at which the cut occursis held by oblique spring-controlled guide-rollers. Thus an entirelysecure lodgment for the tree-trunk is obtained during the cut, so thatall risk of fracture to the knives is avoided. This arrangement will bemore fully described in connection with the drawings in its properplace.

One form of this improved cutting-machine is represented by way ofexample in the accompanying drawings. In it two knives are employed.

Figure 1 shows the elevation thereof. Fig. 2 is the plan, and Fig. 3 isan end view, of the machine.

Like letters and numerals indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

The main driving-shaft 1 is mounted in a powerful frame A and carriesthe two-armed frame B to the two head-pieces 2, whereon the knives 3.are securely screwed. The outer edges of the head-pieces 2 are formedspirally or approximately spirally, so that the cutting edges of theknife-blade (which are parallel therewith) do not coincide with thecircle described by any point of such edge, as appears (see Fig. 1) fromthe circular arc z 2 described by the extreme outer point of one of theblades or cutters, as shown in Fig. 1. In other words, each knife hasits cutting and following edges parallel with each other and with theaxis of rotation of the frame B, but has its surface spirally curvedinward from the cutting-edge toward that axis. The bearing surface foreach knife on the frame B is correspondingly curved. By means of thisarrangement of the surfaces, the wear of the knives can be taken up bysliding the knives along the frame B. The position of the cutter-axis isso selected in-relation to the treetrunk t3 that as the latter is fed tothe cutting-point the cut is effected at an angle of approximatelyforty-five degrees to the longitudinal axis of the trunk. The tree-trunkwhich is to be cut up rests at its forward end upon a bridge at. Thelatter is bounded and terminated at its forward end (i. a, the endpresented toward the knives) by the slantlying steel plate 5, which isindented or hollowed at its upper edge, which acts as support or fulcrumagainst the action of the cutters. For guiding and feeding forward thetree-trunk the tworibbed rollers 6, rotating on vertical axes andgripping the trunk between them,are employed. These feedrollers aremounted on slides 7,which reciprocate to and fro at right angles to thebridge 1 upon the slide-bar 8. A weighted lever 9 tends continually tobring the slides 7 together, with their feed-rollers 6. The lever isconnected to the toothed wheel 10, and this acts on the rackbars 11,which are each connected to the slides 7, as shown. Beneath theslide-bar 8 is located a shaft 12, journaled in bearingsin the frame. Onthe shaft are mounted the miter-wheels 13 in such manner that they canrotate with, but not relatively to, the shaft and are movable along itso as to be kept always operatively engaged with similar miter-wheels onthe spindles of the ribbed rollers 6.

In the machine illustrated the tree-trunk must be fed forward twice atequal intervals for a distance equivalent to the intended thickness ofthe disks during each complete revolution of the main driving-shaft 1 bymeansof the ribbed rollers 6. Thisis effected by a single eccentric 14,secured to the said shaft 1. The eccentric-rod 15 is connected by amovable joint to the bent or angle lever 16, mounted loosely, so as tooscillate freely on the counter-shaft 12. By means of asnitable slot inthe lever 16 and a screw-pin 15 in the end of the arm the throw of theanglelever can be regulated and adjusted to requirements. A thrust-pawl17 on the leverarm 16 engages with the ratchet-wheel 18,secured to theshaft 12, and a second thrustpawl 19, also engaging with ratchet-wheel18, is mounted on the lever 20, with which the other arm of theangle-lever 16 is movably connected, so as to admit of adjustment. andwhich is pivoted at 21 to the frame A. Thus in the course of eachrevolution of the main shaft 1 the ratchet-wheel is twice turned round,first by the one pawl and then by the other, and, in consequence,between each two cuts the feed mechanism causes the tree-trunk toadvance a step equal to the appointed width of the cut. Accidentalmotion of the shaft 12 is prevented by a band or brake-strap 0, made toact by a weight on the disk 22, S6, curely mounted on the said shaft 12.We now come to the special guide-rollers already mentioned in theintroductory part of this specification. These are shown in the drawingsat 23, and are carried by the semicircular arms 24:, which are eachpivoted on a pivot pin 25 to one of the slides 7. By a presser, such aspowerful springs 26, supported on the main frame the guide-rollers 23are pressed against the tree-trunk independently of one another. Thesesprings, it is obvious, may also be replaced by the substitution ofsuitably-arranged weights. It has already been prominently set forththat by the aid of these rollers a perfectly firm and secure position isobtained for the trunk at the time of cutting. Owing to their slantingposition tangential to the circle described by the revolving cutters,they maybe placed almost in contiguity therewith, Lying thus close infront of the knives they obviate the possibility of derangement throughany lever action of the trunk by any effort or strain in the directionof the feed. Quite independently of the ribbed rollers 6 they hold thetrunk securely fast even in case of any material variation in thethickness of the trunk intervening between 6 and 23 as the feedprogrosses. Even in the hypothetical case assumed in the drawings, Fig.2, of so material a difference in the thickness, as shown, between S andS, which practically would never occur, the guide-rollers would do whatis required of them without fail, and the same may be said of the stillmore probable case that the stem should run materially thicker orthinner at, say, the forward than at the backward end. In virtue oftheir mutual independence the rollers adjust themselves easily to anyone-sided irregularity in the trunk; also, thanks to these rollers, thetree trunk may be used up to the last tangible remainder. This will beobvious from superficial examination of the drawings, Fig. 2, as if Sand S were two different trunks or balks, squared at the ends to butt upagainst one another. Equally, by reason of their obliquity, theserollers prevent any tilting of the trunk, and, finally, also, theyoppose and prevent any longitudinal displacement due to any unforeseeneffort which is less than that exerted by the eccentric rod 15 orratchetwheel 18.

I claim 1. In a wood cutting machine, the combination with a framing, ofa horizontal guide 4, a rotary cutter journaled in the frame above thelevel of the guide and having curved bearing surfaces on which are twoadjustable knives each of which has its surface spirally curved inwardfrom the cutting edge toward the cutter axis, feed rollers on movablecarriages, guides for the feed roll carriages transverse to the guide4:, a motor device in operative connection with the carriages forkeeping the feed rolls up to their work, mechanism constituting anoperative connection between the feed rollers and the cutter shaft, abrake for that mechanism, arms, pivoted to the main frame and eachprovided at the end away from its pivot with a guide roller situatednear the cutter obliquely to and approxh mately tangential to the paththe cutter traverses during its out, and a pressing device for the saidarm; substantially as set forth.

2. In a wood cutting machine, the combination with a framing, of ahorizontal guide 4:, a rotary cutter journaled in the frame above thelevel of the guide and having curved bearing surfaces on which are twoadjustable knives each of which has its surface spirally curved inwardfrom the cutting edge toward the cutter axis, feed rollers on movablecarriages, guides for the feed roll, carriages transverse to the guide4, a motor device in operative connection with the carriages for keepingthe feed rolls up to their work, mechanism constituting an operativeconnection between the feed rollers and the cutter shaft, arms pivotedto the main frame and each provided at the end away from its pivot witha guide roller situated near the cutter obliquely to and approximatelytangential to the path the cutter traverses during its cut, and apressing device for the said arms; substantially as set forth.

8. In a wood cutting machine, the combination with a framing, of ahorizontal guide at, a rotary cutter j ournaled in the frame above thelevel of the guide, and. having curved bearing surfaces on which are twoadjustable knives each of which has its surface spirally curved inwardfrom the cutting edge toward the cutter axis, arms pivoted to the mainframe and each provided at the end away from its pivot with a guideroller situated near the cutter obliquely to and approximatelytangential to the path the cutter traverses during its cut, and apressing device for the said arms; substantially as set forth.

{1. In a wood cutting machine, the combination with a rotary cutterjournaled in a main frame, of arms pivoted to the main frame and eachprovided at the end away from its pivot with a guide roller situatednear the cutter obliquely to and approximately tangential to the paththe cutter traverses during its cut, and a pressing device for the saidarms; substantially as set forth.

5. In a wood cutting machine, having a rotary cutter journaled in theframe, the combination with the cutter shaft, of an eccentric 14,eccentric rod 15, angle-lever 16,1ever 21, pawls l7 and 19, ratchetwheel 20, shaft 12, sliding gear wheels thereon, traversing carriageswith feed rollers mounted therein and mechanism operatively connectingthe feed rolls with the said sliding gear wheels; substantially as setforth.

6. In a wood cutting machine, the combina tion with the cutter, feederand feed eccentrio, of a drive gear interposed between the eccentric andfeeder consisting of the ratchet wheel, the lever connected with theeccentric, the pawl on the lever cooperating with the ratchet wheelduring one half of the rotation of the eccentric and the independentlypivoted lever jointed to the first lever and carrying the pawl forcooperation with the ratchet wheel during the other half of the rotationof the eccentric; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand in the presence of thetwo subscribing witnesses.

JOHANN GEORG KREIS.

'Witnesses:

OTTO WOLFF, HUGO B. CONWAY.

